My neck...C6 & C7 problems

Check around and find a high quality chiropractor, one that will do xrays
review and work with you to help with the PT, my daughter was being
sold the surgical route for her back problems from a car wreck she was in so much pain she couldn't stand, my Chiro took her in and in a few months had her fixed up
she's been pain free for 10 years and no knives... no pain pills.

A few years back I ruptured my disc between L5-S1 (base of back). My back got so bad that one day while out of town with my wife my back locked and I couldn't get out of my truck.

I went through many different treatments including PT, chiropractic, hormone and cortisone shots, some hardcore pain killers.

I went for a surgical consult and the surgeon actually recommended I try one more thing first... an epidural. So I went for an epidural where they injected something (don't remember what) into my spine. This didn't do much for me but before giving in to surgery the doctor asked that I undergo a deeper form of epidural. Instead of an in-office procedure this was in a surgical environment where they put me under and injected deep into my spine. Sounds worse than it was.

This last epidural worked great. Within a couple of weeks I could climb stairs again and not have to work at standing up from a chair. It's been about 4 years and while my back is not perfect this sure beat surgery.

If it's necessary by all means, listen to the docs not us innernet wizards LOL

But at least look at alternatives, many of us have found relief without
a knife...

I'm a little late here but I to have had serious back problems. Back in the early 80's I was walking into a boiler room at a chicken slaughter house. We were called in for help as the chickens were waiting to be processed and they could not get the boiler to fire. The boiler was a Clayton steam generator and could get a full head of steam in 5 minutes. Anyway they were trying to start it and the inside had filled with raw gas. I yelled at them not to do that but to late. It exploded and I spent 8 days in the hospital. Had back surgery from a ruptured L5 disk.
I injured it again in 2010 when I went to the Vietnam Wall and suffered with it all the way home. It got so bad that when I got home I parked the bike and called for an appointment but couldn't get right in. I went to emergency as the pain was extremity intense and then I couldn't stand and walk.
Emergency just gave me pain killers. I finally got an appointment but my own DR was to busy and luckily got in to see a really good women DR. By then I was in a wheel chair as it was even worse. They did a MRI and L4 had a bad ruptured disk and was really pronounced. It was pushing on the main nerve, almost cutting it in half and I even got what's called foot drop, not good. DR went around procedure and got me into see a surgeon who turned out to be very good. Two days later my wife wheeled me into the hospital for surgery. That night after surgery I walked out of the hospital to get in the car.
I still get back problems but it's usually muscle now. The surgery is now micro less than an inch and was the best thing I did. Pain was immediately gone. Plus PT would not have helped and they even agreed.

Surgery is always and should be the last resort but there are times when it's the only alternative. They didn't fuse mine but told me one more time and it will be so I'm taking care of it as best I can. I'm back on a stationary bike and working out again plus gotta loose some more weight.

Dam marc 55 just try those tommy copper clothes on the tv adds , Sorry had to rodeo rider says they work , as for the back ask around other docs I know you said you've been with yours for a while now , My Son had his back Broke in there places , yes he has some pain , But still going without surgery , I know all back pain are different , Good luck

You'll be ready for riding by Spring

other than not wanting to do it why put it off.

My dad did that and it just made it worse, waiting longer
means the good knee works double time taking up the slack
for the bad knee. He did this and ended up having both
replaced, it got pretty bad and then they did one knee at a time.

So after the first knee replacement he could hardly walk
because he couldn't support himself on the new one yet
and the old one that was supporting him was so bad
it was difficult.

Don't wait or you'll end up with the same problem.

get it done before the government finds out
you need knees and makes you wait until all
the D voters go first..

I'm with HRK don't wait you'll do more damage to it in the next two years that may not heal.